Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-10-21
eSea d Falrfax.

! eyes a. Fairfax,
| Her figure was encascd In 4 superbly-ht-
| ting dress Of oream-c color In her right hand
she held bouquet Of roses, white, rcd and
| yellow; while, above her lovely brow, fast
encd among those dark tresses, glittered
golden star, from whose center pure dia-
mond shot forth brilliant rays, reflected
from the myriad lights below.
The old Marquis, with powdered whito
hair and cue, mee-breoches and antique
buckles, and talking TO her with the name
less grace Of the French school, while he
carried her long cloak on his free arm,
made, with her, so charming picture as
they came slowly and with graceful dignity
down the steps, that every body uncon-
sclously ceased oonversing to gaze admir-
ingly upon the pair.
| 1t was just at this moment that Fairfax
CHANGED to look up and catch her eye upon
him. She, too, seemed a little confused at
being detected in gazing so fixedly at a
| stranger, and, flushing slightly, turned to
her escort and asked him some impromptu
! question.
Lady Lydia, his watchful companion, per-
ceivcd the confusion on the part OF Fairfax
with evident surprise, and said, quickly:
"Ahl you have already met my friend, the
| Princess, thontn
Rarely thrown of his guard, and wonder
| fully quick at recovering himself, no an
swered, slowly and quietly:
"You are mistaken. II you refer to the
lady coming down the stairs, never saw
| her before this evening"
This was quite true, for it was after six
o'clock, when she was watering her horse
at the pool.
Not so easily forced to retreat Lydia de-
termined to follow up her attack with q
coup d. etat. Easily and gracefully slipping
her arm through his, she remarked:
LET me present you, then"
Was It intuition, timidity or feeling that
the Princess was u being from another
world and must BIO worshiped ct a dis
tance-what was 1t that caused Fairfax to
start back with look OF alarm and hastily
exclaim
mo. Please do not do that.n
He saw his error Immediately, as did
Lydia. Smiling sarcastically, she re-
marked, in ironical tones;
"You appear to be extremely disturbed NJ
the idea OF meeting more stranger, Mr..
Fairfax; and ono so attractive, too"
Just here the Marchionoss entered from
an adjoining room and, seoing the Princess
prepared for departure, hastened toward
| her, saying:
"Surely, my dear Natalie, you are not
| going, without, at least, one song. / have
stopped the waltz for the express purpose
Of hearing you sing"
Smiling sweetly, her charming guest TO
piled:
"Certainly, II you wish IT. but 1t must be
only one"
| Going TO the piano, the Princess played q
| few soft chords and began her song.
| Since the fatal moment every occurrence
had been so opportunc, so peculiarly and
strangely appropriate, that IL seemed 70
Fairfax as IL he werc in a land OF enchant-
ment, or dreaming. But sig hours had
| elapsed since he had seen, only for a mo-
ment, and become helplessly fascinated
with the most lovely being he had ever bo-
| held. Fortune had also willcd II that he
| should not only learn the name Of this fair
stranger rs well as the hAunte OF her ar
tistic labors, but, also, should become the
present possesSor OF certain valued belong
ings Of hers, while, 20 cap the climax, he was,
now, not only IN her presence, but one Of his TO
vorite ballads, that had been ringing through
his brain, ever since he had road II en-
Craved upon the handle OF the recovered
knife-that very song she WIS actually now
singing, with voice glorious md strong;
and, vet, so sweet and deeply sympathetic
that il thrilled every fiber Of his being with
. pleasure so suhelo that Il was akin to
pain. Many did not restrain their tears,
and all were visibly affected. When sho
finished, no applause followed. Tho unusual
silence was far more oommendatoFy. A
gentle pressure Of Natalie's hand by III,
Warehouses, and quiet: 'Thank you, ny
DEAR from the old gentleman, spoke vol
umes Of praise.
Her cloak, trimmed with white ermine
was thrown over the Princess beautiful
neck and shoulders; her own white fingeri
deity encased the shapely head IN its rich
covering, leaving the far-shiniry star stin
visible.
Kissing the Marchioness, she turned "a
the guests, who rose unanimously, and,
making a pretty bow, took the arm Of thu
Marquis and walked down the hall toward
the door. AS she passed by, Fairfax heard
her say:
THAT song has haunted me all the even.
ing and can not got rid Of it."
He involuntarily started, for had he not
been in the same predicamenti
"a fow hours ago." continued she, 81
discovered that 1 had lost q precious gift
that my brother gave to me, Just before he
died. The first few bars OF that, his 70
vorite ballad, wero engraved upon it. am
very sad over its loss"-
Here Fairfax lost her words. He was
seized with an almort uncomfortable desire
to hasten after her and restore tho lost
knife to its proper owner. But the Lady
Lydia, who had been watching him with the
eye Of lynx, remarked, sarcastically:
l,t
tire stranger, after refusing an introduc-
ton TO hertz
Recalled to his senses, Fairfax regarded
his fair tormentor q moment half In en-
treaty, half in defiance; then, assuming his
usual bravado spirit, gave her his arm.
He was filed with Joy. ''Otto,n then,
was only her brother and not lover.
Success had crowned all tho young mans
efforts. BE had discovered far more about
the Princess than he had even dared 10 hope
for, and-far above alli-had been honored
by more than passing glance from her.
A wild delirium Of Joy came over him.
The turn In the tide of his life had, at last,
come. Ho would take II.
Abandoning himself to the delight Of The
moment, he waltzed rs he had never waited
before and found worthy companion In
b1ulht WIN nONOu bdIOuBu blo uhuCO WIN
marvellous ease and grace. Neither had
ever before met with such partner. Their
dancing was 30 remarkable that all the
others paused 10 watch them. Tho orohes-
ira was inspired and the music transport
ingly sweet.
In the case of Fairfax, this display was
simply vent to his suddenly aroused and
violent feeling-the expression Of passion
ate Joy. With tho girl It was the effort Of .
will stirred by pique. Wealthy, titled, I'D
mired, 0ipdyS accustomed 10 easy conquest
and flattery, she was, from the first, an
noyed by tho lack Of interest which this
stranger displayed 1t was something new
to her. Conquest had begotten IN her the
love Of conquest. ALI men paid homage To
her. She expected and liked their hattsry,
and yet, despised them for It. She had now
30 deal with q strange and mysterious typo
Of character This man not only failed 70
admire her but, also, was scarcely civil.
Hor attention was Immediately attracted
and her love OF conquest aroused. She do
taryninad 70 Sonnuar. hut In andaauorIn1 IN